NON EXCUSAT | Atty. Rene John M. Velasco:

ARAW NG KAGITINGAN

Originally, by virtue of Republic Act No. 3022, enacted in 1961 and signed into law by President Carlos P. Garcia, the ninth of April was proclaimed as the Bataan Day. Later on, upon the enactment of Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987, April 9 was then celebrated as a national holiday in commemoration of the Battle of Bataan and is referred to as Valor Day or Araw ng Kagitingan or Bataan/Corregidor Day. Valor means strength of mind and spirit that enable a person to encounter danger with firmness.^[1]

In this week’s issue, we will discuss the history, the stories behind and the essence of Araw ng Kagitingan.

History

At the outset, just ten (10) hours after the military force of Imperial Japan launched an aerial strike towards the naval base of the United Stated of America at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, it began its assault on the Philippine Island on December 8, 1942. It marked the commencement of Philippine-Japanese War that would last for more than three (3) years.

American- Filipino armed forces tried the best they could to repel the Japanese invasion of our precious islands. However, the Japanese forced were too much for the defending soldiers. General Douglas Mac Arthur then ordered the troop to be extracted and withdraw to Bataan. Unfortunately, on April 9, 1942, famished and inflicted with diseases, our Filipino soldiers (more or less 64,000) together with 12,000 American soldiers, thru Major General Edward P. King, surrendered to the Japanese forces. This culminated the four-month standoff between the Filipino-American troops and the invading Japanese forces in the Philippines.

The surrender of Filipino-American forces in Bataan paved the way to perhaps the darkest moment in Philippine History – the infamous Bataan Death March. Immediately after the Major General King, together with more or less 78,000 soldiers, yielded and succumbed to Japanese Imperial Forces, the former were forced to march from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac, a distance of more than 100 kilometers. During the death march, Filipino and American soldiers suffered torture, physical abuse and maltreatment on the hands of Japanese.

Those who tried to escape, took time to rest or were too weak to continue were shot and killed. This march from Bataan to Tarlac lasted for eight (8) straight days or from April 9 up until April 17 which marked the arrival of Filipino-American prisoners in concentration camps in Capas, Tarlac. Records claimed that the infamous Bataan Death March took the lives of large number Filipino soldiers ranging from 6,000 to 18,000.

On the 9^th of April every year, we commemorate and give respect to the gallantry and bravery of these fallen soldiers who fought against Japanese forces to the best of their capabilities despite being greatly outnumbered and lacking the needed weaponry. Their sacrifice in order to defend our land, our beloved country, the Philippines, exhibit and show their unwavering patriotism, selflessness and heroism.

In recent times, we, Filipinos, should always look back and remember this sacrifice that they made and the valor that they manifested on such indelible day in our history. They gave their lives in order for us to have the independence and freedom we are enjoying today. Let us all unite and strive to make sure that their efforts and hardship will not be in vain.

May it be in the defense of our sovereignty and territory, our seas, our West Philippine Sea or our constant and never-ending fight against poverty, corruption and criminality in our country, we shall always stand firm and be as brave and valiant as our forefathers.

Mabuhay ang mga Bayaning Pilipino! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

[1] Merriam-Webster Dictionary